Joan Jett to SeaWorld: Don't use my song

A number of musical acts have canceled performances at SeaWorld in Florida or ended their relationship with the theme park because of the controversial film "Blackfish." Click ahead to see which musicians have have joined the list.

Seen here is the subject of the film, Tilikum, during a performance at Sea World on March 30, 2011 in Orlando, Florida.

Photo By Mike Lawrie / Getty Images

In a cease and desist letter to the president and CEO of SeaWorld in Florida, Joan Jett wrote, "I was surprised and upset to see on YouTube that SeaWorld used I Love Rock 'n' Roll as the opening music for its cruel and abusive 'Shamu Rocks' show. I'm among the millions who saw Blackfish and am sickened that my music was blasted without my permission at sound-sensitive marine mammals."

Cheap Trick canceled a performance at SeaWorld because of the controversial film "Blackfish."

Photo By Jeff Daly/Associated Press

Heart canceled a performance at SeaWorld because of the controversial film "Blackfish."

Photo By Edward Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News

Martina McBride canceled a performance at SeaWorld because of the controversial film "Blackfish."

Trisha Yearwood canceled a performance at SeaWorld because of the controversial film "Blackfish."

Photo By Larry Hulst/Getty Images

Barenaked Ladies canceled a performance at SeaWorld because of the controversial film "Blackfish."

Photo By Tom Reel / San Antonio Express-Newss

REO Speedwagon canceled a performance at SeaWorld because of the controversial film "Blackfish."

Photo By Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Trace Adkins canceled a performance at SeaWorld because of the controversial film "Blackfish."

Photo By Courtesy photo

38 Special canceled a performance at SeaWorld because of the controversial film "Blackfish."

The popular musician, who gained notoriety in the 1980's, penned a cease-and-desist letter to SeaWorld in December demanding that the theme park stop using her song “I Love Rock 'n' Roll” during performances by whales and trainers. The theme park has since stopped using the song, a spokesman said Tuesday.

“I was surprised and upset to see on YouTube that SeaWorld used I Love Rock 'n' Roll as the opening music for its cruel and abusive 'Shamu Rocks' show,” Jett's letter read. “I'm among the millions who saw Blackfish and am sickened that my music was blasted without my permission at sound-sensitive marine mammals.”

Fred Jacobs, vice president for corporate communications for SeaWorld, said “that song was part of a pre-show entertainment package that we don't use anymore.”

A request for comment from Jett was not immediately returned.

Jett is one of many musicians, including legendary Texan Willie Nelson, Heart, Cheap Trick and Trace Adkins, who have pushed back against the theme park by canceling shows or protesting use of their music since the CNN-produced documentary “Blackfish” aired in 2013.

The film, which aired nationally on CNN in October, questions treatment of whales in captivity and the danger to trainers who perform with the whales.

SeaWorld responded to the documentary with a series of full-page newspaper ads in December, including the San Antonio Express-News, noting they have not collected a killer whale from the wild in 35 years.

In January, the Express-News reported on two former SeaWorld trainers involved in the production of the film who have since disputed its claims and “agenda.”

Despite the backlash, SeaWorld last month reported that it has had the best-ever attendance for the last quarter of 2013 and expects to report record full-year revenue of about $1.46 billion when the newly public company officially reports its fourth-quarter results in March, according to The Associated Press.